Behind the Scenes with A Golden State!
Written by Nishant Reddy, Founder A Golden State
Cannabis has always been a large and influential part of my life, as I am sure many of you reading this will be able to relate. As early as my teenage years, to throughout my professional career- whether for recreational or medicinal use- cannabis has not only complimented my lifestyle, but truly been an enhancement.
I have so many fond memories, priceless good times, more laughs than I can even recall, and even the tougher moments of life, where cannabis has helped uplift me and bring me back to a better place. I have nothing but love for the plant and a deep pride and sense of responsibility to help share its wonders with everyone.
It was pre-2014, and I was living and working in New York City. Cannabis was very much illegal, with the exception of California which had passed Prop 215 allowing for the sale of medicinal cannabis at licensed dispensaries. As a New Yorker at the time, this was such a foreign concept to me as I was still very much dealing with delivery guys on bicycles with backpacks full of plastic cubes of cannabis – a far cry from today’s recreational market.
I was working on Wall St., averaging 100-hour work weeks for the better part of a decade, and began to experiment with self-treating with cannabis. I was constantly stressed at work; sleep deprived; and operating in a no-mistake, highly technical environment. My peers would burn it on both ends, heavy alcohol consumption was the norm, but that did not sit well with me. I on the other hand, was coming from playing college athletics and was more focused on health and wellness. I wanted to perform at my highest level at work, regardless of the intense demands, as well as train my body and mind to do so.
This is where my journey with cannabis really evolved. Up until this point, I will admit, I was a recreational smoker- I just wanted to get high and have a good time. Now suddenly, I was researching and learning how to use cannabis medicinally to cope with the demands of my job and the resulting problems: insomnia, stress, and anxiety. As I unlocked the infinite powers of the cannabis plant, I was blown away by how effective it was. I could treat all of the ailments I was dealing with, but with none of the side effects that my peers were facing with alcohol. It was incredible! I was calm; the little sleep I was getting was sound, deep sleep; my stress outside of work was alleviated; and frankly, I was never anxious.
It dawned on me, that despite the stigma, if marketed well and legal, the potential of cannabis as a consumer product good was endless. There was no doubt that if people understood the potential and were given the ability to consume cannabis safely and legally, they would gravitate towards the plant. Fast forward to today, and my vision has come to life in the form of A Golden State- a highly curated, small-batch cannabis brand crafted by connoisseurs. A Golden State represents everything that I was looking for in a cannabis brand and so much more.
Consumers can depend on our premium, exotic strains to deliver consistent pleasure each and every time. Likewise, our award-winning genetics are proprietary, and our cultivation methods are sustainable. In fact, we are the first carbon neutral cannabis cultivation in the country and everything we grow is bio-mineral and organic- fed with snowmelt water from Mount Shasta. In such a short time, we’ve become the go-to option for celebrities, the canna-curious, and most importantly, the OG’s- which are inevitably the most discerning audience. Every day I am humbled by our growth and all the conversations I am fortunate enough to have with our fans. I love this job, and as one of the few minority owners in this industry, I’m particularly drawn by the opportunity to use our platform for social justice.
During the COVID pandemic, A Golden State has donated 10% of our revenue to California Foodbanks and hospitals in underprivileged communities throughout our beautiful state. We’ve held expungement clinics for those unfairly prosecuted for cannabis infractions; written legislature for how social equity programs should be architected; and now, in this critical moment in our country’s history, have partnered with the ACLU. I am also proud to say that 3% of our revenue will be donated to the ACLU to help put an end to voter suppression, fight for criminal justice and drug policy reform, and equal civil rights for all.
We all have choices when it comes to the brands we buy. I hope that this helps you better understand what makes A Golden State special and align with the things that are important to you, including your love for the best cannabis. I thank all of you for your amazing support and wish you well during these challenging times. Together, we can make a positive difference and help create a golden state. For myself and my brand, this is a never-ending battle, and we will continue to use our platform and our position to fight for a better tomorrow. We will always remain dedicated to the cultivation of premium cannabis while evoking social change at the same time- they are core to who we are as a brand.
